Fashion Show

For activity days this week, I was invited to a mother/daughter fashion show with Kali. Thankfully I got to create the fashion while she strutted down the catwalk. I think I missed my calling in life as a fashion designer, don't you! The girls were pretty nervous about walking down the runway so Kali volunteered to go first. She had no clue what she was doing but came out dancing and having a good time. Everyone in attendance was so shocked to see that side of her personality because she always so quite and still at church.

Baptismal Interview

Kali got to meet with the Bishop today for her baptismal interview. She was a little nervous about it so I had her open up the scriptures to the verses that talk about the covenant she'll be making. We talked through them and she basically tried to memorize everything in the verses. I don't know where she gets her perfectionist personality from (can't be me!). She wanted to be ready for any question the bishop would ask her and she was. She's such a good girl and very sensitive to spiritual things. She also has a very good knowledge and understanding of the scriptures.

Primary Program

Today was the primary program. Sadie was the first person to go up to the pulpit and did such a great job. We practiced a lot at home so she had her part memorized, but still it can be very scary to be the first one up and to have enough courage to say your part. She did great. Her class also got to do the actions for The Wise Man and the Foolish Man song.

Kali also did an amazing job with her part and her class got to sing the first verse of When I am Baptized. But this year was very special because she was asked to sing If the Savior Stood Beside Me as a solo in the program. When she was first asked, she immediately said yes and later I realized that she didn't know what the word "solo" meant. She thought her class would be singing with her. When I told her she would be singing all by herself, she was pretty nervous about it but decided she'd go ahead and do it. We practiced the song a lot at home, and when I listened to her perform it during the program practice it brought me to tears. Then during the program she did an amazing job again even though she was very very nervous. The chorister told Kali afterward that it was so beautiful and that she felt the Spirit because she's such a good person. I couldn't have agreed more. The entire program was beautiful. I especially felt the spirit during the last number I'm Trying to be Like Jesus. They had a violin playing with them during the song and just before they sang the chorus for the last time, the violin did a solo. Then the children came in singing with all their hearts the chorus, "Love one another as Jesus loves you. Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, For these are the things Jesus taught." It was like they were telling us what the gospel is all about and how simple it is. It was simply beautiful.

The Primary Program

Today was the Primary Program. Both Kali and Sadie had their parts memorized and they said them flawlessly. I know it wasn't easy for Sadie. She told me that she was very nervous at the practice when she had to say her part, but everything went smoothly and she did a wonderful job. The program overall was amazing. Both Josh and I commented on how we felt the spirit very strong, particularly during the songs Isaiah Says and Holding Hands Around the World. Those happen to be the only two songs that both of the girls know all the words to and you could tell they were singing with all their hearts. And not only did they do a great job, they sure looked cute too! They got to wear their matching Christmas outfits from Grandma Smith.

Primary Activity

The girls got to go to a fun primary activity today. It was to practice the program and then reward them for all their hard work. At each of the four stations they got to do something fun like color, go fishing, or eat donuts without hands. The girls had a ton of fun and it was well deserved.

Float Preview

All of the floats that were going to be in the parade on the 24th were on display at the South Towne Expo Center for a couple of days this week. I guess they do it every year but I never knew it because my stake hasn't ever had a float in the parade until now. It was so much fun. We got to go and see all the floats up close, learn why they chose their specific theme and even see the progression of the float-making process through pictures and posters. It was even fun for the kids because some of the floats had activities such as face painting, free candy, balloon making, etc. to participate in.

We also got to vote for our favorite float and my stake won the people's choice award. I think we're going to have to make a tradition out of going to the float preview.

Stake Float

I mentioned before that our stake was going to have a float in the Days of '47 parade. Our float is entitled Pressing Forward: Still Singing as we Go. It's the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the organ. But the choir is made up of animals. It's such a cute idea. Well our stake decided to enter it into the West Jordan and Murray 4th of July parades. That meant it was crunch time and they were begging for help. I managed to spend a few days working on it and had so much fun. I got to glitter a zebra, parts of the organ and this beautiful hippo. She's a soloist on the front of the float (you can't see her in the picture below because she's on the other side).

For those of you that are planning on attending or watching the parade on the 24th, make sure you watch for this float. We're the Park Stake.

Stake Float

Our stake is going to have a float in the Days Of '47 Parade this year. The float has an animal / Mormon Tabernacle Choir theme to it (it sounds a little weird but it's going to be awesome) and decided to let every person in the stake come and decorate a glitter bug to go on the float. The girls could hardly wait. It was quick, easy and fun. And since it's not something that comes around very often, it'll be cool for them to see the finished product on TV and be able to say that they had a little part in it.

Primary Talk

Sadie got to give her first talk in Primary today. She was assigned the topic of 2 Nephi 32:3 "feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." We had her tell the story of Esther because it has been one of her favorite stories ever since we read about it in the friend. Last year, she and Kali would take turns giving a spiritual thought at Family Home Evening and every time it was her turn, she would pick the story of Esther to talk about.